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Old 02-04-2018, 08:24 PM   #1
Goldo4fxt
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Default Recommend new struts for 04 sti

I have a 2004 forester xt I bought it new it’s the wife’s car. She now wants me to start modding it 14 years later because she refuses to get rid of it.she tells me if the motor pops we will just buy a new motor lol. So I need to know what new struts would a suspension guru recommend . I want wrx sti version so the forester would sit lower and have a better ride than coilovers . Trying not to spend a fortune on this part she will never track it but she wants lower and she also wants wider wheels 8.5 or 9 without rubbing . I need some help here with this part.
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Old 02-04-2018, 08:39 PM   #2
omiotek
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Get wrx wagon suspension
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Old 02-04-2018, 08:53 PM   #3
jamal
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That forester does use the wider sedan control arms and lateral links and the sti-style rear swaybar and endlinks, so you don't really need wagon specific struts (of which there are few options).

To bring a forester to impreza height and have the suspension work properly you should take out the spacers between the suspension crossmembers and chassis.

To do that, you need new shorter bolts, an impreza steering linkage, and I think new trailing arm mounting brackets.

Tokico d-specs are the best deal right now for struts. While they last. You could pair them with stock sti springs, might need a small spacer on the rear tops to keep the ride height even.
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Old 02-04-2018, 09:56 PM   #4
Goldo4fxt
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jamal View Post
That forester does use the wider sedan control arms and lateral links and the sti-style rear swaybar and endlinks, so you don't really need wagon specific struts (of which there are few options).

To bring a forester to impreza height and have the suspension work properly you should take out the spacers between the suspension crossmembers and chassis.

To do that, you need new shorter bolts, an impreza steering linkage, and I think new trailing arm mounting brackets.

Tokico d-specs are the best deal right now for struts. While they last. You could pair them with stock sti springs, might need a small spacer on the rear tops to keep the ride height even.
Not to sound stupid but do I need to bring it to wrx height first ? Or can I just do the tokico d specs . Are there any coilovers that will give a sti type ride ?
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Old 02-07-2018, 07:03 AM   #5
rocknut
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STI struts and stock springs should lower approx. 2" Then you could use lowering springs if you want to go farther and don't rub.
On my 04 wagon I want to go up. I'm tired Of the lowered stance as I get older. So I'm looking at the forester strut swap. The complete opposite of what your doing.
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Old 02-09-2018, 06:55 PM   #6
Mike_Feal
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So we have gotten a ton of great reviews on the Feal Fixed Perch Struts if you care to take a look:
http://fealsuspensionstore.com/wrx-sti-struts#FPS-1

Turn In was even nice enough to start a thread about them a while back:
https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/sho...d+perch+struts

So the 2004 STI FPS kit is a 5x100 and will work with many of the older cars including the GC Impreza, GD/GG Impreza/WRX, SG Forester and SF Forester. You would retain your OE top hats the only necessary change would be that you need OE or OE replacement (Swift, RCE, etc.) 04-07 STI springs. We even installed a set on our 97 Forester shop car before we sold it.
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Old 02-09-2018, 10:28 PM   #7
jamal
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Goldo4fxt View Post
Not to sound stupid but do I need to bring it to wrx height first ? Or can I just do the tokico d specs . Are there any coilovers that will give a sti type ride ?
The forester struts are longer and the springs are taller so installing any struts and springs or coilovers meant for the impreza/wrx will put you at impreza height. BUT, your control arms and axles do not want to be at that height because of the spacers between the crossmembers and chassis. So to do it right you need to take that stuff out.

Last edited by jamal; 02-09-2018 at 10:33 PM.
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Old 02-10-2018, 12:24 AM   #8
mitch808
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Default Recommend new struts for 04 sti

You don't want wrx struts and lowering springs on an fxt. It's too low, slammed is what the kids call it...

Drop koni inserts into your fxt bodies and use the Mann Engineering Swift lowering springs for the FXT. Perfect 1.5" drop.

Using anything else for a wrx will net you a drop 2+" close to 3" if using really low drop springs.
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Old 02-10-2018, 12:06 PM   #9
jamal
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This is a friend's FXT with wrx struts (with konis) and sti springs for reference:



He did remove all the subframe spacers.
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Old 02-15-2018, 11:35 AM   #10
mitch808
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FXT struts with Koni inserts and Swift FXT lowering springs (Subframe spacers remain) Overall drop was about 1.5" vs 2.5+" when doing the WRX /STI struts + lowering springs.

https://imgur.com/a/gfN9l

https://imgur.com/a/of7U6
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Old 02-15-2018, 01:42 PM   #11
car_freak85
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike_Feal View Post
So we have gotten a ton of great reviews on the Feal Fixed Perch Struts if you care to take a look:
http://fealsuspensionstore.com/wrx-sti-struts#FPS-1

Turn In was even nice enough to start a thread about them a while back:
https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/sho...d+perch+struts

So the 2004 STI FPS kit is a 5x100 and will work with many of the older cars including the GC Impreza, GD/GG Impreza/WRX, SG Forester and SF Forester. You would retain your OE top hats the only necessary change would be that you need OE or OE replacement (Swift, RCE, etc.) 04-07 STI springs. We even installed a set on our 97 Forester shop car before we sold it.
You guys really need to start offering these struts in a stock SG forester size. PLEASE!
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Old 02-16-2018, 12:42 AM   #12
mitch808
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Quote:
Originally Posted by car_freak85 View Post
You guys really need to start offering these struts in a stock SG forester size. PLEASE!


Why not use stock height king springs with those? Itll still be about 1” lower than stock fxt suspensions
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Old 02-16-2018, 11:23 AM   #13
car_freak85
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mitch808 View Post
Why not use stock height king springs with those? Itll still be about 1” lower than stock fxt suspensions
I don't want a lowered Forester, I want a lifted one. Stock-size (or 1" lifted) adjustable struts are what the offroad-Subaru crowd desperately needs, but no manufacturer anywhere in the world provides an acceptable part.

If FEAL took their STI struts and built them in the stock SG Forester dimensions (or raise the spring perch another inch and lengthen the strut by that much as well) they'd have a REAL winner. There are a TON more Forester owners out there than STI owners.

Also, the King springs will also eat almost an inch of droop travel, so that's not really a good solution.
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Old 11-12-2021, 10:41 AM   #14
JessMech
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jamal View Post
The forester struts are longer and the springs are taller so installing any struts and springs or coilovers meant for the impreza/wrx will put you at impreza height. BUT, your control arms and axles do not want to be at that height because of the spacers between the crossmembers and chassis. So to do it right you need to take that stuff out.
Hey!
Just picked up an 04 FXT with some simple mods already installed. I want to take it further and I'm looking to "slam" the car using STI parts, it came with STI springs installed on stock struts so I've got the springs, I just need help wrapping my head around the whole spacers and steering rack bit.
I'm unearthing an old subject simply because I can't find any support (yes I already used search) on this subject. Does anyone know of a writeup, thread link, or point me in a search direction cuz I'm not seeing it!?
Thanks all!!!
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Old 11-12-2021, 12:01 PM   #15
REX_WGN
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You'll have better luck over on the subaruforester.org forum just based on the car you have.
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Old 11-12-2021, 12:34 PM   #16
JessMech
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Quote:
Originally Posted by REX_WGN View Post
You'll have better luck over on the subaruforester.org forum just based on the car you have.
Thank you
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